Stormlands

Hueco Mundo.

It was a massive expanse of white desert under a night sky that had a pale white moon hanging above it. Black, quartz like minerals often littered its landscape along with the occasional boulder and stone structures that had eroded away by time or destroyed by the hollow denizens that roam the expanse. Denizens that are in a constant state of fight or flight due to the vicious nature of Hollows. To kill and consume or to be killed and consumed. That was the norm for this barren desert, soaked in the blood of Hollows. To rise to the top, a Hollow must consume spirit energy. Or, as the Shinigami call it *reishi*. The Hollows in Hueco Mundo that dwell above the sands vary from the very first stage of Menos, who just began their Hollow existence, to the Vasto Lordes, who have taken in enough spirit energy to evolve to the top.

Currently, two Adjuchas Hollows were talking, enjoying the body of another Adjuchas they had both slain. One had the form of a snake, his mask having large, venomous gangs. His body was a greyish black color, the tip of his tail was adorned with vertebrae spikes. His companion was an Ox-looking Adjuchas. He had a large, brown furred bipedal body with massive arms. His skull had the appearance of a minotaur and his knuckles were lined with spiked bone plating.

"Snake we're not going to improve much by just going after lone Adjuchas.. Most of them all belong to a group" The ox said while finishing his portion.

"That's right. Have you heard of that one panther Adjuchas, leading a pack? Or the Vasto Lorde with three servant Adjuchas women.. Kuh! Women are so rare too… Must be nice.." The snake replied.

"We should join a group too.. Just not Barragan. We'll never grow if we join his army in Las Noches.. What do you think?" Ox asked while standing up and looking around at the sand dunes in a lack of interest.

"We could try joining that panther's group. Maybe we can usurp him if we get strong enough, lead a pack on our own and hunt other groups? Yeah.. we could easily become Vasto Lordes that way!" The snake became excited and said.

"Mm.. I dunno.. How does one even become a Vasto Lorde..?" Ox asked.

"We continue eating.. Why? It's worked so far, right? Back from when we were simple Menos. Then to Menos Grande and finally to Adjuchas" The snake explained.

The ox looked down at its hands and looked back at the snake. "I dunno.. maybe it's different? What if we're going about it.. wrong?"

"What? Why do you question it now? It's worked so far. Just be patient and continue on, we'll get there eventually" Snake assured Ox and finished his meal.

"Now since hunting down strays will barely get us anywhere.. let's go find that Panther Adjuchas and see if we can join his pack" Snake started moving the opposite direction they came, Ox following after.

Traveling in Hueco Mundo is, most of the time, uneventful. Often times, all one would ever see is sand and rock, barring those tree-looking minerals scattered across the dunes. One only had direction based on the spiritual pressure (or Reiatsu) being emitted in Hueco Mundo. Vasto Lorde territories having much if the Vasto Lorde wasn't bothering to conceal their power. Las Noches was rather heavy with spiritual pressure as well, due to the hundreds of Adjuchas and Barragan residing there. The strays of Hueco Mundo would stay far away from the areas where the spiritual pressure was that concentrated, unless they wished to try and join groups or they were arrogant enough to think they could take on anyone there.

There were legends in Hueco Mundo. Hollows who claimed to see outlandish things never before seen in the desert. The abyssal chasm that was home to black armored Hollows who could see well in the dark. Las Noches, which simulated the day under its massive dome and held hundreds of Adjuchas. Then there was the Stormlands. It was an area said to have constant rain and heavy winds. As if a hurricane was rooted to one spot in Hueco Mundo and never moved away from it. Most Hollows dismissed this though, as nobody had ever even seen a drop of water in Hueco Mundo, much less a thunderstorm. What most Hollows dismissed as a tall tale though, was true. And the Ox and Snake were set on a path straight to the Stormlands, where no Hollow had crossed into and returned.

As they crossed more and more sand dunes, they saw the horizon sky change. No longer was it a cloudless night sky before them. Instead, they saw thick rain clouds and extreme winds in a five mile radius. It was raining heavily yet the white sand inside the Stormlands remained undisturbed. Not even the raging yet calm seeming winds disturbed it. Snake and Ox's jaws dropped upon seeing the phenomenon. They both felt a very powerful spirit energy within the Storm, likely where the eye of the storm was.

"Snake… what is that..? I feel like there's something.. inside" Ox sputtered and swallowed his saliva.

"I heard of this.. It was supposed to be a legend.. But Las Noches is real so this is not too big of a leap" Snake proceeded forward, much to Ox's dismay.

"Wait what if it's dangerous?" Ox asked and rubbed his mask nervously.

"Ox you fool. You feel it too, don't you!? That kind of energy.. It can help us reach Vasto Lorde! What's a little danger in the face of evolution!?" Snake heatedly asked.

"Okay I get it.. Let's go in, carefully though" Ox stated while following Snake right up to the wall of heavy rain.

"Doesn't look so tough.. It's just a bit of wind and rain, come" Snake gestured ahead and pushed on, into the Stormlands as his companion swallowed nervously and followed after him.

Inside they felt the rain and wind batter them, though it wasn't entirely unpleasant because the spiritual energy they felt within, was laced within the rain, nourishing them on top of Hueco Mundo's natural spiritual energy in its atmosphere. As they walked on further ahead, they saw arcs of lightning hitting the sandy ground, burning numerous areas to glass. The further in they traveled, the more abundant the glass was. It reached a point where they were stepping onto a transparent white glass ground, desperate not to be hit by the lightning that carried a lot of rampant spirit energy.

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Outside the storm stood four figures, Sun-Sung, Mila Rose and Appachi were gathered around their leader, Tier Harribel. The Fraccione seemed anxious and curious as to why they were there, staring at the unusual storm two Adjuchas wandered into. Harribel herself just stood atop a sand dune, watching the storm with her arms crossed below her breasts.

"Lady Harribel.. Why are we waiting outside this.. storm? I feel so much spiritual energy within it.. I'm sure one of us could even become Vasto Lorde should we absorb it!" Sung Sun commented and Appachi backed her up with a furious nod.

"We wouldn't even need to fear Barragan any more. I'm sure we could take Las Noches for ourselves if you wanted to" Appachi said, looking over to Mila Rose, who was elegantly nodding.

"I never told you about this place, have I?" Harribel responded but continued upon seeing the lost expressions of her Fraccione.

"There is a man who lives within the storm. I came upon it some time ago, when I was fleeing from a group of Adjuchas. They either wanted to devour me or use me as an outlet for their other carnal urges" Harribel narrated, unbothered by the memory.

"Those bastards!! Are they dead? If they aren't I'll.." Appachi threatened, supported by the other two, but Harribel simply shook her head.

"No. They died. I fled into the storm while I was still an Adjuchas, realizing the rain was nourishing me. My pursuers also realized this but still they chased me. Until I reached the eye of the storm. There was nothing there but a stone monolith and a Vasto Lorde. He was simply staring at it, as if entranced by the images carved upon the large rock. The Adjuchas that had chased me did not realize the man was a Vasto Lorde. Either due to the chase or intense spiritual energy in the area. They made the mistake of launching a Cero at him. Even more unfortunate was that it had missed and obliterated the monolith….." Harribel's gaze became intense upon narration of the monolith before sighing, releasing her built up tension.

"He-" Harribel was interrupted by the sounds of sky quaking thunder, lightning arcing across the Stormlands and burning the sands to searing hot glass. It looked as if the Stormlands changed, now looking much more like a gigantic, dark tornado that stood in place, throwing molten glass sand all over its radius.

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Minutes before the Stormlands' change and Harribel's narration, Ox and Snake finally reached the center, though whatever expectations they had were shattered upon seeing a bipedal, humanoid looking Hollow. Covered in bone plate. They couldn't decide what animal he had actually taken the form of upon his Hollow transformation. Upon his head were plated wolf-like ears. His hair, which reached down to his feet was a dark violet in color. His mask, which covered half his face from the nose down, looked like the mix of a savage looking eel and a dragon, with fangs jutting upwards. His neck, down to his collar was covered in a white fur, much like a wolf's. His body was fully covered in armor and partially torn clothes. The armor was pure white but the area where his ribs were shone with a bio-luminescent green, where electricity crackled intensely. The armor being scale-like in design, like a mix of a Dragon and an Eel, he had a fin like spine running up his back that also crackled with electricity. His hands were reptilian looking plated claws, white fur coming out of the top of his forearms. His waist was covered in an azure blue torn cloth with white fur trimmed edges. His legs covered by thin black pants where all that you could see were his draconic looking white plated feet.

He looked incredibly strange to the two Adjuchas. Like a chimera. Unfortunately for them, Snake threw apprehension out of the window and gaped at the spiritual energy abundant in the area.

"Ox do you feel it!? There's so much… That strange Hollow's been keeping this all to himself.." Snake asked his companion.

"Snake.. I don't think that's a good idea" Ox said, recognizing the avaricious expression on his companion's face.

And so Snake went in to strike, not realizing the Hollow before them was, in fact, a Vasto Lorde. Though he was merely staring at the monolith with all of his focus, not realizing anyone was there until he felt fangs crack against his plating. The Vasto Lorde quickly turned to the two Adjuchas in surprise, leveling his green eyes on them with curiosity.

"Ah.. I didn't even notice I had visitors" He grabbed Snake by the jaw and gently pried him off as Ox broke out in a nervous sweat at his companion's actions.

"S-Snake.. now that I think about it.. isn't this guy a Vasto Lorde…?" Ox said with fear laced in his voice as Snake froze.

"Vasto Lorde..? Oh, right. Power terms.. You both can leave if you want. I don't care for guests in this place.. So piss off, will ya?" The Vasto Lorde dismissed them and just looked back at the drawings he drew on the monolith.

A wyvern, three women, a wolf beast and a large eel along with numerous other detailed pictures.

Snake gnashed his teeth so hard cracks started to form. His rage at being disregarded so easily and denied the spiritual energy, made him act irrationally. He launched a cero into the monolith and blew it to pieces, scattering stone and sand everywhere.

For the first five seconds, it became silent. As the Vasto Lorde stood rooted in his place, looking at where his monolith once was. Then, the winds funneled and grew more and more violent, the spiritual pressure slamming down on both Adjuchas so hard they started to helplessly sink into the sand, gasping for air.

"Do you know what you have just done..?" The Vasto Lorde turned to Snake, bloodlust oozing from his body as he took slow steps towards him.

"I have been here, so very long.. I can't remember my own name. My memories, lost. All I ever have anymore, are dreams. Reminding me of what I once had. Dreams I forget soon after I wake up. I drew those images.. for years. Fucking.. years. To remember what I once had. But you.. and those other ones.. You keep destroying what I'm trying to reclaim. Why?" He asks as he crouches and gets face to face with Snake.

"N..No Hollows.. remem..ber their.. lives.. They're over! All we have is our hunger! To fill the hole.." Snake managed to speak out while the pressure weighed down on him.

"You're right.. But those images. They could have helped me reclaim.. To fill that hole." The Vasto Lorde pointed to his Hollow hole in the center of his chest.

"You ripped that away. Why? To get stronger? No, there was no benefit to you. You were angry. So like a child, you threw a tantrum." The Vasto Lorde insulted him as the storm winds and lightning surged down, into him.

"I'll never have my peace here, it looks like" He now stood up again, and promptly annihilated Snake with an incredibly bright blast of lightning.

"Snake! Why.. He was no threat.." Ox angrily yet fearfully asked.

"I learned long ago never to spare anyone with resentment towards you. Much like you. I'm not a monster, though. Not a sadistic one at least. I'm making it quick" And then Ox too was annihilated with another bright flash of lightning, turning him to dust.

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Harribel watched in mute silence as the storm was sucked away into the silhouette of a long haired Vasto Lorde, who proceeded to walk towards her and her Fraccione. Though it looked like he was walking at a normal pace, he ended up right in front of them within seconds, body sparking with lightning.

"You.. aren't with those two. What did you want?" The Vasto Lorde asked as Mila Rose, Sung Sun and Appachi were forced behind Harribel.

"I was just in the area and felt their spiritual pressure walk into your grounds. I'm sorry I didn't stop them before they incurred your wrath" Harribel calmly apologized as she set her gaze on the chimera Vasto Lorde, who tilted his head at her apology.

"Why apologize? You weren't with them. In fact, you look kinda familiar" He retorted, looking her up and down.

"I was chased into your territory some time ago.. You killed them because they destroyed your monolith.. I stayed within the storm and absorbed some of the spiritual energy you created. It's why I am a Vasto Lorde now, in fact" Harribel suddenly bowed to him gratefully as she finished, prompting him to scratch his head.

"Right, the first time… I see. No need to bow. I see you look more human now. Looking way better now though, Sharky" He complimented, to ease off the awkward atmosphere that had been made.

"Th-Thank you.. Are you leaving this area now? Where will you go?" Harribel asked, coming up with a proposition.

"Mn. I don't know where I'll go. Or what I'll do from now on. I spend a lot of time asleep, trying to dream and remember my life as a human. Maybe I'll act like that one peculiar man.. The one with a small girl by his side. They do visit me from time to time. I think they're lonely" The Vasto Lorde looked over the dunes and thought about Starrk and Lilynette.

"It's hard, living alone in Hueco Mundo. Not merely for the weaker Hollows but even the strong. When you're as strong as a Vasto Lorde, you tend to be.. alienated by other Hollows. They avoid you because of your power. After all, having that power usually means you have devoured countless Hollows" Harribel's tone shifted into melancholy.

"No, I've never eaten any Hollow. As far as I can remember, my first day as a Hollow.. I've been this way" The Vasto Lorde responded, earning surprised expressions from all four females.

"How powerful of a soul did you have in life…" Harribel questioned, her curiosity peaking.

"I don't know much. Only that I was a warrior of some kind during my life. The skills, I remember. My precious memories, though are gone.." He sighed tiredly and looked up at Hueco Mundo's moon.

"You are.. a good soul. Most Hollows don't care about such things. They care about attaining strength. Will you come with us? Perhaps you'll make more precious memories. You'll find my companions have a lot of personality" Harribel offered, looking to a now arguing Mila Rose, Sung Sun and Appachi.

"I think.. I would like that, actually" The Vasto Lorde said while watching the three argue about whether or now Harribel could beat him. They weren't arguing if she could though. They were arguing about how she would go about it.

"Please excuse their rudeness.. They look up to me a great deal" Harribel apologizes, earning her a firm hand on her shoulder.

"No worries, I'm not that prideful. My ego was… lost along with my memories maybe? Hopefully I don't bore you" The Vasto Lorde commented.

Harribel nodded and sighed at her Fraccione's heated discussion.

"Enough you three.. we should continue on our way. We'll be joined by our new companion here, the Thunder Lorde" Harribel gestured to him.

He thought about the name, rolled the title around in his head. It felt familiar. A strange sense of deja-vu hit him but seeing the anxious expressions on the women's faces shook him out of the stupor.

"Not a bad title, I suppose. I'd like a real name though.. One like all of yours. They're unique" He looked at them all. The Fraccione all looking proudly at Harribel.

"Lady Harribel gave us our names. Hers means *Gift of seas* I believe?" Sung Sun commented.

"I could think of one, if you.. don't mind?" Harribel asked, looking at the man.

"Feel free" He gave permission and awaited her choice.

"Lobos Tormenta. First name meaning wolf and second means thunderstorm. What do you think?" Harribel asked calmly, though she was nervous at the kind of response she would get.

"I like it.. It certainly suits me. Call me Lobos from now on. I'll follow your lead, Harribel"

Unknown to him, due to her mask covering her face, Harribel actually smiled a tiny bit before leading them away from the previous Stormlands.

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A long time passes from this point. Time is nigh impossible to tell in Hueco Mundo due to the lack of a day in the eternal night. Lobos had traveled with Harribel and her Fraccione for a long time, teaching them all and pitting them against groups of Adjuchas while sparring with Harribel himself. His swordplay, agility, quick thinking and physical strength were something to behold and he never used lightning except for when Barragan's minions had gone after them in groups. If they proved too much for the Fraccione, he called forth a streak of lightning and wiped out half in an awesome display of power.

It had been quite a while since they were pestered by Barragan and his subordinates. They heard rumors from passing Hollows that he had been defeated by an unusual Soul Reaper and Las Noches usurped from him. The news seemed irrelevant to them until one day, after Mila Rose, Appachi and Sun Sung beat a gang of Adjuchas lead by a Panther Hollow, they were visited by a Soul Reaper in a Captain's Garb. Sensing their trepidation, Lobos walked ahead with Harribel and confronted the Soul Reaper.

"Greetings, Vasto Lordes. I mean you no harm.. truly. I am starting an opposing force against the Soul Reapers and Soul Society. I can give you more power and a place to call home, instead of wandering the desolate deserts. To achieve this power, I have an item of great power, able to remove your masks partially. You'll look human once again" The Soul Reaper said, as if selling a sales pitch.

"Why would we trust you, Soul Reaper?" Harribel asked, folding her arms skeptically.

Lobos, though was thinking about one thing. To be nearly human once again was one thing he thought impossible. As far as he knew, there was no higher evolution than Vasto Lorde. The proposition interested him but he was a realist, nobody simply offered power for free.

"I see you doubt me, as many others I have come to with this. I can show you the results of my efforts" He gestures over to a man behind him they just now noticed.

He is pale, has black hair, a white bone plate mask on half of his head. He's in a white Soul Reaper like garb and his Hollow hole is in between his collar bones. To his side was a katana, normally seen used by Soul Reapers. Lobos' eyes widened, sensing the Spiritual Pressure that rivaled his before nodding to an equally awed Harribel and looking back at Aizen.

"No power comes free. What do you want from us in exchange for this power?" Lobos asked, eyeing up Aizen.

"You are an intuitive one. Yes, the price being loyalty to myself. I am the new ruler of Las Noches. I have plans to oppose Soul Society. To break the limit of power set upon us.. Captain.. Vasto Lorde. I shall break through the meaningless limitations of this world" He passionately claimed, making Lobos and Harribel think before giving their answer.

"We agree"

Aizen then brought out the small spherical item he called the Hogyoku. He first used it on the Fraccione, turning them all into quite attractive women all increasing in power substantially, which impressed Harribel and Lobos. The three all rushed to Harribel and Lobos, showing off their human-like forms and power to get praise.

"Lady Harribel, Sir Lobos! I'm much stronger now, right?" Appachi confidently smirked and asked.

"Fufu.. I now look far more elegant, don't I?" Sung Sun asked, putting her hand over her mouth coyly.

"Hehe! Look at the size of my rack! Hot damn are they big and bouncy. Hoo-Hoo-Hoo.." Mila Rose smugly said while doing small jumps to show her breasts' bounciness, thoroughly annoying the other two Fracciones. Lobos was looking away respectfully and watched as Harribel was transformed by the Hogyoku.

Her armor crumbling away and revealing a tanned woman with some muscle definition to go along side her very well-developed body. With H cup sized breasts, wide hips and big round glutes. Lobos was staring at the beautiful woman whose lower face was still covered by her mask. Remarkably showing embarrassment upon being looked at by him when usually she would not care if she was stared at. Quickly turning away his head to stop gawking, he noticed her large power jump that put her power above his. Nodding at this he complimented her.

"I knew underneath all of that plate was a beautiful woman. I see you've become far stronger too. I'm happy for you, Harribel" He said with an almost jovial, teasing tone.

"Well don't just gawk at me.. you're next, *Thunder Lorde*" She said in an almost teasing tone right back.

Lobos nodded and placed his hand on the Hogyoku. All of the sudden, it glowed far brighter than anyone it had changed previously. A maelstrom of Spiritual Pressure that made off of their hairs stand up descended upon them, making even Aizen sweat. Lobos' armored plates fell to the ground and revealed his toned male body. He was defined but not overly muscular. His face now revealed but part of his mask remained on his right jaw. His face was rather handsome, youthful and framed by his long violet hair that went down to his feet still. He was covered in light green tribal tattoos on his lower torso and upper arms. He was still in his black cloth pants but lacked a shirt. This caused Harribel to stare back in awe. Both at his power and appearance. Luckily any blush she'd have was hidden behind her half mask. Aizen though, was amazed by the pressure weighing down on him before it all disappeared into Lobos.

'Amazing.. he is even higher than Starrk. I'll need to show him Kyoka Suigetsu just in case.. A safety precaution' Aizen smiled and looked back in the direction of Las Noches.

'Just a few more left to convince and I will have my Espada'

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Harribel and Lobos had settled into Hueco Mundo after a few scuffles with the other Arrancar they met inside. The Panther being one. His name was Grimmjow and upon recognizing them, he immediately challenged Lobos. Though Lobos didn't seem to want to, he still effortlessly beat Grimmjow down but avoided any serious wounds as he didn't want to kill future allies. He didn't hate the Panther but found him a little annoying. It reminded him of his dreams about his past life. So it was mainly due to nostalgia that he tried to get6 along with the Panther Arrancar, though he hasn't seen much improvement on that front.

There were a few Arrancar he just disliked though. Barragan, Yammi and Nnoitra especially annoyed him. Nnoitra being sexist towards Harribel at first before being put in his place by her. Yammi was loud, aggressive and cocky. Barragan was the epitome of prideful arrogance. The rest he had no real issues with. Though upon settling in, he saw Starrk and Lilynette again. Lilynette was mad at him for disappearing for a long time. He could tell that she and Starrk had actually missed him as he was the sole person whose power matched theirs and could talk to them. He found a kindred spirit in Ulquiorra, in that he seemed to have lost his emotions and understanding of them, while he lost his ego. The rest, he barely knew and couldn't say much about.

There was a meeting that day, all of the Arrancar were walking into the meeting room, where Aizen, Gin and Kaname were waiting. Each Arrancar taking a seat to Aizen's sides.

"Greetings, my Arrancar friends. Today we shall be discussing the structure of our forces. Each of you are to be part of the highest ranking members of Las Noches. The Espada. Each number will be indicative of your power. The lowest number being the strongest Espada. I have measured your Spiritual Pressure and Energy quality. Now I will be naming you all counting from nine down to one" Aizen took out the Hogyoku and started.

"Szayelaporro Granz, the Noveno Espada. Zommari Rureaux, the Octava Espada. Grimmjow Jaegerjacquez, the Septima Espada. Nnoitra Gilga, the Sexta Espada. Ulquiorra Cifer, the Quinto Espada, Neliel Tu Odelschwank, the Cuatro Espada. Barragan Louisenbairn, the Tres Espada. Coyote Starrk and Lilynette Gingerbuck, the Segunda Espada. Tier Harribel, the Primera Espanda, Lobos Tormenta, the Cero Espada" Aizen finished as beams of light flew out of the Hogyoku and printed the numbers on each Espada.

Some were upset others were ahead of them in power and thought Aizen wrong. Particularly Baraggan and Nnoitra. Lobos, Harribel and Starrk got out of there before it came down to a fight. Ulquiorra did the same as soon as Barragan started to claim he was the only one fit to be the Cero.

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Time had passed yet again inside Las Noches. Lobos was still no closer to reclaiming his memories and Ego. He sat upon his balcony outside his room, watching the Arrancar below socialize. He heard knocking on his door behind him as he was thinking where to go from there. He didn't notice as Harribel walked in behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder, shaking him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, Harribel. What's going on? Need something or are you just here to talk?" He watched as she sat next to him on his balcony and looked at him.

"Yes I.. I wanted to speak to you, Lobos. I think I should let you know about some things I.. consider important to me. Will you listen?" Harribel's eyes were practically pleading as she nervously approached the topic.

"Of course. We're companions after all" Lobos assured her and focused entirely on her.

"I have been thinking. As we get ready to face the Soul Reapers.. It occurs to me that we may not survive the war with them. I think.. with these kinds of stakes involved, that I should be honest with myself in case anything happens to us. Lobos, I think-" She was cut off, mid sentence as parts of the roof were blown off las Noches, revealing the night of Hueco Mundo and a gargantuan Red Dragon that floated in the sky, drawing everyone's attention. Its power making all below Espada start to faint from its presence alone. Even the Espada above Quinta could not stand properly. Harribel herself found it somewhat difficult to breathe.

Lobos stood up and watched the Dragon, eyes widening as he recalled some old memories. He had fought Dragons before, in life. This he was sure of. As he saw the result of the Dragon's presence affect Las Noches, more importantly, Harribel, her Fraccione, Grimmjow, Starrk and Lilynette, he knew what his next actions ought to be. His memory of battling monstrous Dragons and his desire to protect the people he cared about had triggered something within. The next thing Harribel saw was Lobos, in an entirely new form, covered in lightning, resembling a scaled wolf man, flying up to the dragon with a wrathful Hollow roar that sounded much like thunder.

AN: A fic I started a while back with a decent premise. I got burned out on RWBY so I'll be doing this for a bit. Until I get my passion back. It's an AU too and one of my first fics ever.